Schedule some 'me' time

The cardiologist gave me “the look” — you know, the one every woman has perfected as a response to children, employees, spouses and random idiots when the recipient says something totally inane.

I had just pointed out that my injured thumbs were keeping me from exercising and that was the cause of the several pounds I had accumulated around my midsection since our last visit. The look was accompanied by a simple observation on her part, “Seems like you have legs.” 

Sheepishly, I confirmed that I did indeed have legs, mumbling something about my hip hurting and my spinal stenosis being troublesome and finally, under her withering glance, I said, “OK, I admit it. Those are just excuses.”

Pledging I would start using those legs, I pondered just how to begin yet another exercise regimen. Like most of you, this is a continuing chapter in my life. I do like to be active, to exercise and feel strong and healthy. But somehow it seems like some little thing — a looming number of deadlines, a family crisis, an injury — will throw me off my game. And even though I know the benefits of exercise, it takes, in this case, a humiliating encounter in the doctor’s office to get me motivated.

I reached out to my friend Holly Johnson, who has run so many races and done so many triathlons, I don’t think she can even keep track, to get her advice on how to approach this issue. 

Over lunch at Simon’s Coffee House — she eats healthfully, too — she gave me another take on exercise. 

“Everyone knows that exercise is good for them. But, it’s somewhat abstract to tell someone that they will, for example, add three to four years to their life if they exercise the recommended 150 minutes per week. That doesn’t compute at the moment,” she says. “I try to get people to understand the value of valuing themselves. The value of taking time for yourself and the rewards it brings, which have a ripple effect through your life.”

By now, I was shaking my head, wanting to hear more. 

“This is particularly important for women. By our nature and socialization, we typically think about taking care of others before ourselves. We all schedule appointments for our kids, our spouses, our pets, our parents — so how about one for ourselves? I’ve seen — and experienced firsthand — the value of making time for ‘me.’ We feel better about ourselves and, in turn, are in a better position to take care of others. Taking care of ourselves is an amazing self-esteem tool.”

“OK, Holly,” I agreed. “How to get started?”

“This is so simple. We just need to move — and the easiest and most affordable thing to do is walk,” she said. “When we start moving forward physically, we also start moving forward psychologically and emotionally. Our health and energy improve, and we naturally feel better about ourselves and life in general.”

As we were standing in the parking lot, I asked Holly for a few more pointers. She promised to think about it and email me later in the day. Here’s what I received. I’ve cut it out and placed it on the fridge:

• Like life, treat training as a journey, one step at a time. There is no magic pill to getting fit, thin or healthy.
• Walking is the easiest and most affordable way to get moving. Start with 10 minutes and gradually work up to 30 minutes. When you can walk steadily for 60 minutes, you could start a walk-run program if you so desired.
• Make sure you get fitted for a really good pair of walking or running shoes. Poor fitting shoes are one of the primary reasons people end up with aches, pains and injuries, particularly when starting out and then they quit.
• Make an appointment with yourself on exercise days (start with three times a week). Block it out. If you’re a morning person, schedule 30 minutes for yourself before there are distractions. If an evening person, head out from work before going home. Never think of yourself as so unimportant that you can’t take 30 minutes.

Who is Holly Johnson?

A member of Sarasota’s Team New Balance and coach for the New Balance inMotion running program, Johnson began her competitive endurance sports streak when she started out to see if she could finish an Olympic Distance Triathlon. She finished it, coming in 20 minutes ahead of her target time. It was her “wow” factor — her “I can do this” moment!

Since then, Holly has competed in hundreds of races, including qualifying for the Boston Marathon in 19 of her 24 marathons. She has run Boston five times, including a fast finish in the 2013 marathon that saved her from being in the finishing area when the bombs went off. She returned in 2014 and will run again on Monday, April 17, her 25th marathon. She has nursed and healed injuries, taken up a daily yoga practice, embraced walking, cycling, alpine skiing, Nordic sports and scuba diving as alternate diversions and healing practices. She is also a partner at Imagica, a PR, marketing, design and photography firm based in Sarasota.